#man-made-islands

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Renovation
fromArchDaily
3 days ago

Off the Mainland: Floating Architecture Projects Redefining the Built Environment

Floating architecture adapts to water levels, using buoyant materials and anchoring systems to address environmental challenges in coastal regions.
Science
fromFuturism
3 days ago

Chinese University Announces 30-Story "Artificial Island" for Marine Research Purposes

China is constructing the largest semi-submersible research platform, the Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility, to enhance marine research capabilities.
Upper West Side
fromTime Out New York
1 week ago

A stunning new waterfront space just opened in NYC

A new community space called 'the Classroom' has opened at Wagner Park Pavilion, enhancing Lower Manhattan's waterfront with performances and events.
Design
fromArchDaily
1 week ago

Unearthing the Ground: Architecture and the Politics of Oil

Petroleum profoundly influences modern architecture through its extraction and infrastructure, shaping spatial organization and energy flows in contemporary life.
Berlin
fromenglish.elpais.com
2 weeks ago

All architectural styles and none at the same time': how Dubai became a catalog of whims on a colossal scale

Dubai represents a realized dystopia from 1970s science fiction, featuring artificial islands, extreme climate control, and authoritarian governance that attracts millions despite its fundamental structural contradictions.
World news
fromThe New Yorker
2 weeks ago

Iran's Attacks are Destroying Dubai's Sense of Safety and Possibility

Dubai attracted Iranian migrants seeking stability and safety away from war, but recent Iranian attacks on the UAE are diminishing this sense of security and distance.
Renovation
fromArchDaily
1 week ago

Christian Kerez's Pearling Path Car Parks Being Demolished in Muharraq, Bahrain

Parking structures along the Pearling Path in Bahrain are being demolished as part of a redevelopment initiative to enhance access to heritage sites.
Real estate
fromLondon Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
2 weeks ago

Dubai vs London: Why global investors are looking beyond traditional property markets - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

Dubai increasingly competes with London as a property investment destination, offering higher rental yields, investor-friendly conditions, and strong capital growth potential that appeal to globally mobile buyers.
#waterfront-development
Brooklyn
fromHoodline
3 weeks ago

Tower Fight Brews On Singer Island As New York Developer Targets Blue Heron Bridge

A New York developer proposes a massive waterfront tower on Singer Island with 298 residences, retail, and marina, sparking community debate over economic benefits versus environmental and character impacts.
Brooklyn
fromHoodline
3 weeks ago

Tower Fight Brews On Singer Island As New York Developer Targets Blue Heron Bridge

A New York developer proposes a massive waterfront tower on Singer Island with 298 residences, retail, and marina, sparking community debate over economic benefits versus environmental and character impacts.
Silicon Valley
fromArchDaily
3 weeks ago

From Cloud to Coast: The Physical Cost of AI in Hong Kong's Borderlands

AI data centre infrastructure, typically hidden in remote locations, faces potential integration into Hong Kong's San Tin region, threatening established wetland ecosystems and village-based livelihoods built on fishpond and tidal pond economies.
Miscellaneous
fromArchDaily
3 weeks ago

Setbacks as Courtyards: How Civil Architecture Reimagines the Gulf House in Bahrain

Civil Architecture reinterprets the traditional Gulf courtyard house model for contemporary suburban development by transforming underutilized peripheral spaces into functional gardens that serve both environmental and domestic purposes.
#water-security
World news
fromwww.aljazeera.com
4 weeks ago

How targeting of desalination plants could disrupt water supply in the Gulf

Military attacks on desalination plants in the Gulf threaten water security in one of the world's most water-scarce regions, with Bahrain reporting Iranian drone damage to a facility.
#dubai-security
World news
fromThe Atlantic
3 weeks ago

If You Hate Dubai

An Iranian drone strike on Dubai's financial center has damaged the city's reputation as a safe commercial hub, prompting schadenfreude from critics who view Dubai's vulnerability as comeuppance for its image-focused development.
#architectural-design
fromArchDaily
2 weeks ago
Renovation

Transforming a Concrete Shell into a Wooden Interior Shaped by the Sea

A Mediterranean harbor house renovation transforms a raw concrete shell into a material-driven interior that echoes maritime atmosphere through spatial organization, natural materials, and carefully controlled views of the surrounding landscape.
fromArchDaily
3 weeks ago
Design

Floating Pavilion / Studio RE+N

A minimalist white pavilion floats above terraced tea fields in Zhejiang Province, China, designed to embody both structural suspension and the ephemeral quality of mountain mist and light.
Renovation
fromArchDaily
2 weeks ago

Transforming a Concrete Shell into a Wooden Interior Shaped by the Sea

A Mediterranean harbor house renovation transforms a raw concrete shell into a material-driven interior that echoes maritime atmosphere through spatial organization, natural materials, and carefully controlled views of the surrounding landscape.
Design
fromArchDaily
3 weeks ago

Floating Pavilion / Studio RE+N

A minimalist white pavilion floats above terraced tea fields in Zhejiang Province, China, designed to embody both structural suspension and the ephemeral quality of mountain mist and light.
fromBusiness Matters
3 weeks ago

Controversy in Malta: the three projects causing uproar.

Environmental NGOs have been particularly vocal in their opposition, warning that approval of the project would 'disfigure' Malta's coastal landscape. The coalition of hostile NGOs, including Moviment Graffitti, Din l-Art Helwa, and BirdLife Malta issued a statement arguing that there was 'no credible justification' for increasing the project's scope.
Real estate
#sea-level-rise
Environment
fromwww.npr.org
3 weeks ago

Millions more people are in the path of rising seas than previously thought

Sea level rise threatens 132 million more people than previously estimated due to underestimated baseline ocean heights in scientific models.
Environment
fromMail Online
1 month ago

Sea levels may be up to 4.9 feet HIGHER than we thought

Sea levels could be up to 4.9 feet higher than previously estimated, putting 132 million more people at risk of flooding due to reliance on inaccurate geoid models in coastal threat assessments.
Environment
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Global sea levels have been underestimated due to poor modelling, research suggests

Global sea levels are 30cm higher on average than previously modeled, with some regions 100-150cm higher, requiring reassessment of coastal climate impacts.
London
fromElite Traveler
1 month ago

The Story Behind The World Islands, Dubai

The World Islands, Dubai's abandoned man-made archipelago shaped like a global map, is experiencing a significant revival with luxury hospitality brands and ultra-high-net-worth buyers returning to develop boutique resorts, private villas, and curated island experiences.
Renovation
fromwww.dw.com
2 weeks ago

Mining cities to build homes from demolition waste

Rotor DC and similar organizations across Europe salvage and resell reclaimed building materials from demolished structures to promote urban mining and circular economy practices.
World news
fromReadWrite
3 weeks ago

Wynn Al Marjan Island construction resumes UAE amid tensions

Wynn Resorts resumed construction on its Al Marjan Island resort in the UAE after a temporary pause, while monitoring regional geopolitical tensions and maintaining worker safety protocols.
Miami
fromBusiness Insider
1 month ago

I'm moving from Miami to Dubai. The Middle East conflict won't stop me.

A 31-year-old American hairdresser relocates from Miami to Dubai in April, attracted by no income tax, safety, and cultural appeal despite geopolitical concerns.
World news
fromwww.aljazeera.com
3 weeks ago

How much of the Gulf's water comes from desalination plants?

Gulf states produce 40 percent of world desalinated water through 400+ plants, making them critically dependent on desalination infrastructure vulnerable to military strikes in a water-scarce region.
Renovation
fromBusiness Matters
3 weeks ago

Design Inspirations From Palm Jumeirah's Villa Homes

Palm Jumeirah villa design principles—sea-facing sightlines, seamless indoor-outdoor transitions, and textured neutral palettes—create luxury homes that prioritize views, comfort, and architectural privacy.
Science
fromTechRepublic
1 month ago

The Ocean May Be the Next Home for AI Data Centers

Offshore wind-powered underwater data centers offer a practical alternative to space-based solutions, combining renewable energy generation and natural seawater cooling.
Design
fromArchDaily
1 month ago

Rotterdam's Sustainability Landmark and Brisbane's 2032 Olympic Stadium: This Week's Review

Architecture navigates legacy, authorship, and social responsibility while addressing sustainability, accessibility, and public engagement across cultural and institutional contexts.
Renovation
fromYanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
3 weeks ago

The World's Tallest Timber Skyscraper Is in Sydney, and It Rises 600 Feet Into the Sky - Yanko Design

Atlassian Central in Sydney will become the world's tallest hybrid timber tower at 183 meters, more than double the current record holder, using a combination of concrete, steel, and engineered wood.
New York City
fromInc
1 month ago

140 Cities in Maine, L.A.'s Olympic Committee, and NYC: The Urban Tool That's About to Change Everything

MIT researchers created the first complete pedestrian activity model for New York City, revealing movement patterns and crash vulnerabilities, applicable to any U.S. city and enabling better infrastructure funding allocation.
fromTheregister
1 month ago

Singapore eyes barge-based hydrogen power for datacenters

A barge-based configuration offers advantages over land-based facilities, according to BDC, including optimization of scarce land resources through offshore or nearshore deployment, vital in a country that is smaller than many cities, including London. This arrangement also offers segregation between hydrogen handling infrastructure and the core datacenter operations, the firm says, plus greater flexibility in hydrogen transport and storage, making use of Singapore's maritime ecosystem.
Environment
Design
fromwww.archdaily.com
1 month ago

Coastal Dwelling / Abon Studio

Coastal Dwelling is a 680 m² residence designed by Abon Studio on a narrow Hermanus coastline site, responding to geological and oceanic context with mountain and ocean views.
fromdesignboom | architecture & design magazine
1 month ago

repetitive vertical fins enfold concrete structure embedded within thailand's mountainscape

The building is organized around a series of repetitive vertical concrete fins that define the primary system. These elements operate as climatic filters, spatial thresholds, and structural components, establishing a rhythmic articulation across the elevation. Their spacing creates varying degrees of permeability, regulating natural light while framing controlled views toward the distant topography.
Design
London politics
fromLondon On The Inside
1 month ago

A Large Floating Park Could Be Coming to London

Royal Victoria Dock West will become London's largest floating destination with a large floating park, year‑round wellness facilities, floating homes, and increased public open space.
fromSFGATE
1 month ago

Obsession with private islands is driving unprecedented cruise industry growth

Despite decades of jokes and occasional bad publicity, cruise vacations are more popular than ever - just ask the tens of millions of Americans who take one every year and together represent more than half of all annual cruise travelers. Today's ships are massive, complex affairs backed by giant corporations and celebrity commercial sponsorships, all commanding big money. And while to the uninitiated, a ship may just seem like any other ship, experienced cruisers increasingly understand that unique offerings make all the difference.
Travel
fromianVisits
1 month ago

Royal Docks plans would add floating parkland and residential boat berths

The plans would affect an area known as Royal Victoria Dock West, which is the end closest to London City Hall and the Cable Car. If carried out, the two biggest changes will be a range of floating walkways reaching into the dock, lined with water plants. The other change will be the introduction of walkways on the south side of the dock for long-term residential boat moorings.
Real estate
fromHyperallergic
2 months ago

"Sandcastles" Tells the Tale of Two Singapores

Singapore, Michigan, was a thriving lumber town in the late 1800s, until erosion from mass deforestation caused the surrounding sand dunes to shift and swallow it whole. Yet just as quickly as the town disappeared under sand, its namesake in the East emerged from it: Around the world, Singapore is renowned for its use of land reclamation - importing sand to increase landmass and spur urban development.
Arts
US news
fromBusiness Insider
1 month ago

Epstein was planning a major renovation to his private islands. Here's what he wanted it to look like.

Jeffrey Epstein planned an extensive renovation of Little St. James and Great St. James, commissioning Radyca for detailed architectural and interior plans before firing them.
fromAeon
2 months ago

From Michigan to Singapore, a meditation on dreams built on sand | Aeon Videos

A sprawling tale of two Singapores, the short documentary Sandcastles draws connections between Singapore, Michigan - a 19th-century ghost town swallowed by sand following widespread deforestation - and the island country of Singapore, where rapid development and land reclamation has, for decades, been enabled by the importation of sand. More poetic exploration than call to action, the work surveys waterways, cycles of development and the transient nature of sand - deceptively sturdy over short timescales but, over decades, quite volatile.
Philosophy
Gadgets
fromThe Verge
2 months ago

A second US Sphere could come to Maryland

A 6,000-seat mini-Sphere with immersive visuals, audio, haptic seating, and 4D effects is planned for National Harbor, Maryland, near Washington, DC.
Travel
fromwww.npr.org
2 months ago

Greetings from Mumbai, where residents take breathing space where they can find it

Mumbai's narrow seaside promenades provide vital breathing space where diverse, intimate scenes of everyday life unfold amid intense urban crowding.
Real estate
fromMail Online
1 month ago

The 'air-conditioned forest' becoming Middle East's latest attraction

Gewan Island in Qatar features a solar-powered, air-conditioned 450-metre Crystal Walk forest that keeps temperatures at 21–23C year-round for outdoor comfort.
fromBrooklyn Eagle
2 months ago

Exhibition opens Friday on alternative visions for the Brooklyn Marine Terminal

RED HOOK - A SPECIAL EXHIBITION - "Brooklyn Marine Terminal: Past, Present, & What's Next for Red Hook?" - will hold its opening Friday night from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Compere Collective, 351 Van Brunt St. in Red Hook. The display, hosted by Resilient Red Hook in collaboration with Pratt Institute's School of Architecture, features student work that explores alternative visions for the BMT, bringing academic insight, community priorities and design innovation together.
New York City
Travel
fromTravel + Leisure
2 months ago

This New Bahamas Resort Will Have the World's First Floating Helipad

Rosewood Exuma will feature the world's first movable floating helipad over crystal-clear Bahamian waters, offering dramatic, private helicopter arrivals and ultra-luxe island amenities.
fromTime Out Worldwide
1 month ago

This beautiful tropical island is launching a brand-new digital nomad visa

As of February 2026, the island is offering those who can work remotely for companies outside of Sri Lanka the chance to apply for a year-long digital nomad visa, so here is everything you need to know about how to apply if you're eligible. Firstly, you need to be at least 18 years old and earning a minimum of €1,700 (or around $2,000) per month.
Travel
fromdesignboom | architecture & design magazine
1 month ago

can desert sand with plant-based materials be used to build houses and roads?

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the University of Tokyo have made a prototype of botanical cement made of desert sand and plant-based additives in hopes that it can be used to build houses and roads. Once mixed, the team adds tiny pieces of wood together and presses them all with heat to produce the cement.
Science
#recycled-plastic
World news
fromArchDaily
1 month ago

Buildner and Dubai's RTA Award 500K for Climate-Responsive Urban Design

Dubai Urban Elements Challenge awarded 2,000,000 AED to promote modular, climate-responsive urban elements for scalable public-realm improvements across Dubai.
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

New poo balls on Sydney beaches after revelation of huge fatberg stuck in treatment plant

Debris balls have washed up on Sydney's beaches after a weekend of heavy rain, with the objects found on Malabar beach next to a sewage treatment works and also in Botany Bay. Sydney Water erected a sign at Malabar beach warning of the potential pollution. This area may be affected by sewage debris balls, the sign states. Please do not touch any debris. We are cleaning the area and apologise for any inconvenience.
Environment
Design
fromArchDaily
2 months ago

Between Sea and City: Contemporary Fish Market Architecture

Fish markets shape coastal urban identity by mediating city-sea relations, embodying maritime culture, and evolving into hybrid public spaces tied to waterfront regeneration.
Real estate
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Dubai sells itself': real-estate boom as entrepreneurs and fortune hunters arrive

Dubai's tax advantages, modern infrastructure and luxury property market are drawing wealthy professionals and billionaires, driving booming real estate commissions and business relocations.
Environment
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Human-made materials make up as much as half of UK beaches, study finds

Human-made materials such as brick, concrete, glass and industrial waste can constitute up to half of coarse sediments on some British urban beaches.
Real estate
fromFast Company
2 months ago

9 blockbuster buildings opening in 2026

2026 unveils bold global architecture, including Olympic arenas, controversial museum replacements, and innovative timber-canopy theaters reshaping urban cultural landscapes.
World news
fromenglish.elpais.com
2 months ago

The Trump administration is selling a new Gaza' in the style of Dubai

Jared Kushner proposed rebuilding Gaza into a Dubai-style free-market hub contingent on Gaza's demilitarization, despite ongoing Israeli strikes and severe humanitarian hardship.
Environment
fromYanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
2 months ago

Fishing Nets and Snack Wrappers Just Became Retaining Wall Blocks - Yanko Design

Eco-C CUBE transforms mixed, unsortable plastic waste into interlocking, high-strength structural blocks—outperforming concrete in tension, enabling cement-free retaining walls with built-in drainage and lower CO₂.
Real estate
fromArchDaily
1 month ago

Building at the Edge: New York and Hong Kong's Competing Waterfront Logics

Coastal development balances capital drives, public access, sustainability, and urban identity, forcing trade-offs evident in New York City and Hong Kong waterfront projects.
#neom
fromFuturism
2 months ago
World news

As Saudi Arabia's 100-Mile Skyscraper Crumbles, They're Replacing It With the Most Desperate Thing Imaginable

fromFuturism
2 months ago
World news

As Saudi Arabia's 100-Mile Skyscraper Crumbles, They're Replacing It With the Most Desperate Thing Imaginable

Environment
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Why does Sydney pump sewage into the ocean and put its famous beaches at risk of poo balls?

Sydney disposes most sewage via fast primary treatment, removing solids and discharging effluent through deepwater ocean outfalls, relying on ocean dilution reaching limits.
Environment
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Fatberg the size of four buses likely birthed poo balls that closed Sydney beaches and it can't be cleared

A large fatberg in the Malabar deepwater ocean sewer likely caused debris balls on Sydney beaches; repairing it requires months-long outfall shutdown and beach closures.
Real estate
fromInsideHook
2 months ago

Mercedes-Benz Announces Residential Development in Dubai

Mercedes-Benz and Binghatti are creating a 12-tower luxury residential complex in Dubai combining automotive design DNA with varied residences and extensive sporting and indoor facilities.
Real estate
fromConsequence
2 months ago

New Sphere to Be Built at National Harbor Near Washington, DC

Sphere Entertainment plans a 6,000-seat National Harbor Sphere near Washington, DC featuring LED Exosphere, 16K×16K interior display, immersive sound, haptic seats, and 4D effects.
Environment
fromTravel + Leisure
2 months ago

These Popular Beach Destinations Are Facing a Seaweed Crisis-Here's How They Can Be Dangerous

Recurring sargassum inundation has caused multi-million to billion-dollar economic losses to tourism, recreation, and fisheries in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Florida.
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